More than half of U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana in some form, and more are considering bills to do the same. Yet while many people are using marijuana, the FDA has only approved it for treatment of two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Marijuana is the slang term for portions of the Cannabis plant. It is one of the oldest psychoactive substances used by man.
Marijuana, also called pot, weed, ganja, mary jane, and a host of other nicknames, is made from the Cannabis plant, which has three species: Cannabis sativa; Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis. The flowering plant, which can grow to 16 feet (5 meters) high, likely originated in the Central Asian steppe, near the Altai or Tian Shian Mountains, and was first cultivated in China and India, according to “Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Potential,” (Routledge, 2002).
Marijuana (cannabis) is a green, brown or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. Marijuana is used as a psychoactive (i.e. mind altering) recreational drug, for certain medical ailments and for religious and spiritual purposes. Sinsemilla, hash/hashish (resinous form) and hash oil (sticky black liquid) are stronger forms of marijuana.
The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive ingredient. The highest concentrations of THC are found in the dried flowers, or buds. When marijuana smoke is inhaled, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream and is carried to the brain and other organs throughout the body. THC from the marijuana acts on specific receptors in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, starting off a chain of cellular reactions that finally lead to the euphoria, or “high” that users experience. Feeling of a relaxed state, euphoria, and an enhanced sensory perception may occur. With higher THC levels in those who are not used to the effects, some people may feel anxious, paranoid, or have a panic attack.
Certain areas in the brain, such as the hippocampus, the cerebellum, the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex, have a higher concentration of cannabinoid receptors. These areas influence memory, concentration, pleasure, coordination, sensory and time perception.
Marijuana’s strength is correlated to the amount of THC it contains and the effects on the user depend on the strength or potency of the THC. Different strains will contain different levels of THC. In general, the THC content in marijuana has been increasing since the 1970s, when it contained roughly 10% THC. In 2015, as reported by Live Science, researchers from the American Chemical Society found levels of THC at roughly 30%.
There are many other chemicals found in marijuana, many of which may adversely affect health. Marijuana contains over 60 different cannabinoid compounds, and overall 400 different compounds have been identified in marijuana, including THC, cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol, and β-caryophyllene.
Sativa is a tall, sometimes scraggly plant typical of the Indo-European regions that typically provides users with a surge of creativity and playful energy. It is frequently described as “cerebral.”
Users of Sativa describe an uplifting experience that stimulates creativity and is often accompanied by deep focus and concentration. Athletes, artists and individuals seeking to improve their emotional well-being often favor Sativa. Not surprisingly, physicians often will suggest Sativa to assist patients with depression and lethargy.
By contrast, Indica is a short, bushy plant typical of the Asian sub-equatorial regions that provides users with a deep sense of physical comfort, frequently described as a “body high.”
Indica is considered useful in calming anxiety, reducing body pain, and helping users fall asleep. For these reasons, Indica is commonly recommended by physicians to reduce spasms, including seizures and migraines, and resolve high anxiety or intense stress.
In this blog created by Claire Briggs Marijuana as a Medicine: Everything You Need to Know
When our bodies are exposed to cannabinoids such as THC and CBD from marijuana plants, they bind to the receptors in our endocannabinoid system. There are two cannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2
CB1 receptors: These receptors are found in our brain, the nervous system, the intestines, tissues, gonads, and other glands in the body. When these receptors are activated it works at:
- Relieving depression
- Lowering blood pressure
- Decreasing intestinal problems
- Increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (vital to learning, working memory, and higher thinking).
- Lowering anxiety
- Reducing fear
CB2 receptors: CB2 receptors are found throughout the body in the spleen, tonsils, thymus, immune cells, monocytes, macrophages, B and T cells, and microglia. CB2 receptors control:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Gastrointestinal disease
- Neurodegenerative disease
- Psychiatric balance
- Autoimmune disease
As you can see, marijuana as a medicine can literally affect your entire body promoting overall wellness and homeostasis.
When our bodies are exposed to cannabinoids such as THC and CBD from marijuana plants, they bind to the receptors in our endocannabinoid system. There are two cannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2
CB1 receptors: These receptors are found in our brain, the nervous system, the intestines, tissues, gonads, and other glands in the body. When these receptors are activated it works at:
- Relieving depression
- Lowering blood pressure
- Decreasing intestinal problems
- Increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (vital to learning, working memory, and higher thinking).
- Lowering anxiety
- Reducing fear
CB2 receptors: CB2 receptors are found throughout the body in the spleen, tonsils, thymus, immune cells, monocytes, macrophages, B and T cells, and microglia. CB2 receptors control:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Gastrointestinal disease
- Neurodegenerative disease
- Psychiatric balance
- Autoimmune disease
As you can see, marijuana as a medicine can literally affect your entire body promoting overall wellness and homeostasis.